Five Thousand Political Prisoners Revolt Against Regime in Soviet Prison

January 1, 1924

Riga (May. 19)

Five thousand political prisoners in the Moscow fortress, Butirka, revolted last night against the overcrowding in the prison, and the severe regime under which they are being held. In their rage the prisoners pulled down the fixtures and destroyed the walls, windows and various objects in their cells. The next morning a detachment of the “Ogpu,” the newly re-organized Cheka, was sent to the prison to quell the mutiny.

Many of the prionsers were undressed and terribly beaten. Among them were the prionsers Lechtmann, who was arrested for professing Socialistic Zionism, the Zionist Dobkin, who was arrested for belonging to the Hechalutz, and Dr. Sorkin, also a Zionist. Those charged with the instigation of the disturbance will be tried. Among them is Dobkin.